Education
Cuyahoga Community College's $18.7 million Advanced Technology Training Center educates the workforce of tomorrow by finding, training and placing the right people into the right jobs, serving as a feeder system of work-ready candidates for in-demand positions in high-tech industries.
On Thursday, May 1, Global Cleveland will officially launch its talent attraction campaign at a major event at the Cleveland Convention Center. The event -- like the organization hosting it -- is focused on increasing the population while strengthening the local economy.
Back by popular demand, the second annual Entrovation will be held on Friday, May 2, at the Beachwood Community Center. The event is an opportunity for entrepreneurs and businesses of all sizes to showcase their companies and learn from each other. Organized by Beachwood High School marketing teacher and Junior Achievement advisor Greg Perry, the event is touted as the largest Northeast Ohio business fair that connects businesses and entrepreneurs.
“We will have everything from salsa to solar panels,” says Perry. The event is the culmination of a year-long Beachwood Junior Achievement Company Program taken by 24 students from Beachwood, Mayfield and Brush high schools.
The students work on Entrovation all year, planning every detail and learning about entrepreneurship. “The class operates like a company,” explains Perry. “My students' company is an entrepreneurial event planning company.”
More than 170 businesses, from small startups to large local players like CWRU, Parker Hannifin and Sherwin Williams, will exhibit. “These companies encourage their employees to think like entrepreneurs, even though they work for very big companies and universities,” says Perry. “And it’s a really great way for young entrepreneurs to establish local contacts.”
The Burton D. Morgan Foundation will sponsor the Innovative Entrepreneur of the Year Awards in which five companies will be chosen by attendees at Entrovation. The top five entrepreneurs will be invited to pitch their companies on May 28 for a chance to win $3,000, $1,500 and $500 prizes.
Entrepreneurial companies will have their goods for sale, Collection Auto Group will have cars on display and six food trucks will be on hand. Perry is expecting about 5,000 people to attend this year’s event, which is free and runs from noon to 6 p.m.
Source: Greg Perry
Writer: Karin Connelly
“We will have everything from salsa to solar panels,” says Perry. The event is the culmination of a year-long Beachwood Junior Achievement Company Program taken by 24 students from Beachwood, Mayfield and Brush high schools.
The students work on Entrovation all year, planning every detail and learning about entrepreneurship. “The class operates like a company,” explains Perry. “My students' company is an entrepreneurial event planning company.”
More than 170 businesses, from small startups to large local players like CWRU, Parker Hannifin and Sherwin Williams, will exhibit. “These companies encourage their employees to think like entrepreneurs, even though they work for very big companies and universities,” says Perry. “And it’s a really great way for young entrepreneurs to establish local contacts.”
The Burton D. Morgan Foundation will sponsor the Innovative Entrepreneur of the Year Awards in which five companies will be chosen by attendees at Entrovation. The top five entrepreneurs will be invited to pitch their companies on May 28 for a chance to win $3,000, $1,500 and $500 prizes.
Entrepreneurial companies will have their goods for sale, Collection Auto Group will have cars on display and six food trucks will be on hand. Perry is expecting about 5,000 people to attend this year’s event, which is free and runs from noon to 6 p.m.
Source: Greg Perry
Writer: Karin Connelly
In Cleveland’s ever-evolving social media community, there is a wide variety of contributors to the civic dialogue. We've complied a list of some of our favorite voices -- a mix of up-and-comers and seasoned vets from different corners of the web who are using their blogs, podcasts and Twitter feeds to give the city a voice.
The students in the Math Corps at CSU program are not just there to sharpen their math skills. For the third summer, a group of middle school and high school students will come to the CSU campus from Cleveland schools for a four-week program that not only teaches math through mentoring, but also provides a nurturing, supportive environment.
The Math Corps at CSU is a spinoff of a program at Wayne State University in Detroit, which has since 1990 offered a combined academic enrichment and mentoring program to Detroit Public Schools students. Since 1995, more than 95 percent of Detroit’s Math Corps students have graduated from high school and 80 percent have gone on to college.
Organizers in Cleveland looked to Detroit when launching a similar program here. Beyond strong mathematical foundations, the Math Corps provides a safe, caring environment in which children are able to recognize and nurture excellence.
“It’s really about a way of seeing kids and a way of seeing math,” explains Dionissi Aliprantis, associate director of the Math Corps. “It’s about helping kids realize their greatness. All kids have greatness in them. We use math as a way to bring it out of them.”
The seventh and eighth graders learn from high school teaching assistants (TAs), who have been through the program. There also are six college instructors. The participants are divided into teams of 10 middle school students at the same grade level, one college student who serves as team leader, and five TAs. Students emerge loving math, loving themselves and knowing how to respect others.
“There’s a lot you can learn from math: hard work, the courage to fail and it’s kind of fun,” says Aliprantis. “We do all that in the context of a caring community. We have high expectations and we tell them we actually care about each other and take care of each other.”
While the program is open to all Cleveland area middle and high school students, organizers see the Math Corps as a way to support struggling Cleveland public schools. “It’s about creating this community,” says Math Corps co-founder and instructor Francisca Richter. “You have to have commitment, a sense of responsibility and the drive to want to learn. We hope to reach out to more children.”
This year the Math Corps will accept 40 incoming seventh graders to attend the camp from July 14 to Aug. 7, as well as 20 eighth graders and 30 high school teaching assistants. Applications are due by Friday, April 11.
Sources: Dionissi Aliprantis and Francisca Richter
Writer: Karin Connelly
The Math Corps at CSU is a spinoff of a program at Wayne State University in Detroit, which has since 1990 offered a combined academic enrichment and mentoring program to Detroit Public Schools students. Since 1995, more than 95 percent of Detroit’s Math Corps students have graduated from high school and 80 percent have gone on to college.
Organizers in Cleveland looked to Detroit when launching a similar program here. Beyond strong mathematical foundations, the Math Corps provides a safe, caring environment in which children are able to recognize and nurture excellence.
“It’s really about a way of seeing kids and a way of seeing math,” explains Dionissi Aliprantis, associate director of the Math Corps. “It’s about helping kids realize their greatness. All kids have greatness in them. We use math as a way to bring it out of them.”
The seventh and eighth graders learn from high school teaching assistants (TAs), who have been through the program. There also are six college instructors. The participants are divided into teams of 10 middle school students at the same grade level, one college student who serves as team leader, and five TAs. Students emerge loving math, loving themselves and knowing how to respect others.
“There’s a lot you can learn from math: hard work, the courage to fail and it’s kind of fun,” says Aliprantis. “We do all that in the context of a caring community. We have high expectations and we tell them we actually care about each other and take care of each other.”
While the program is open to all Cleveland area middle and high school students, organizers see the Math Corps as a way to support struggling Cleveland public schools. “It’s about creating this community,” says Math Corps co-founder and instructor Francisca Richter. “You have to have commitment, a sense of responsibility and the drive to want to learn. We hope to reach out to more children.”
This year the Math Corps will accept 40 incoming seventh graders to attend the camp from July 14 to Aug. 7, as well as 20 eighth graders and 30 high school teaching assistants. Applications are due by Friday, April 11.
Sources: Dionissi Aliprantis and Francisca Richter
Writer: Karin Connelly
Watching Cleveland getting rocked for two hours in Captain America is great, but when the rush fades and reality creeps in, we're left with no guarantee Hollywood is ever going to return. A group of area stakeholders is advocating for changes that would attract more film projects, or even a prestige TV drama, to the North Coast.
Downtown Cleveland was named one of the top cities for millenials to live by The Atlantic, with more than 1,000 new housing units coming online, and major projects like Flats East helping to reenergize formerly moribund parts of downtown. These are just a few of the successes listed in Downtown Cleveland Alliance's 2013 annual report, and touted at this week's State of Downtown forum at the City Club.
Yet more needs to be done to connect downtown's assets, including public realm improvements, pedestrian- and bike-friendly amenities, and especially lakefront connections. These were the messages conveyed by leaders at the forum.
"We're no longer in the 'big box' phase," said Joe Marinucci, President and CEO of DCA. "Now our challenge is, how we can incrementally connect the investments."
Marinucci pointed to Perk Park, a revamped green space at East 12th and Chester, as an example of a successful strategy for creating public improvements.
Now DCA has launched Step Up Downtown, an initiative to engage residents and stakeholders in envisioning the future of downtown. With abundant plans in place, the goal is to prioritize which enhancements to focus on first, garner feedback from residents, and drill down to the implementation phase.
"This initiative recognizes that we've made a lot of investments downtown, but in many ways haven't connected the investments as well as we should," said Marinucci. "We need to make the public realm as attractive as the destinations."
Attendees posed questions about connecting to the waterfront, making downtown accessible to all income levels, and prioritizing educational opportunities for families.
Marinucci cited lakefront development plans, the incorporation of affordable housing into downtown projects and DCA's work with Campus International School and the Cleveland Municipal School District as signs of progress.
Source: Joe Marinucci
By Lee Chilcote
Yet more needs to be done to connect downtown's assets, including public realm improvements, pedestrian- and bike-friendly amenities, and especially lakefront connections. These were the messages conveyed by leaders at the forum.
"We're no longer in the 'big box' phase," said Joe Marinucci, President and CEO of DCA. "Now our challenge is, how we can incrementally connect the investments."
Marinucci pointed to Perk Park, a revamped green space at East 12th and Chester, as an example of a successful strategy for creating public improvements.
Now DCA has launched Step Up Downtown, an initiative to engage residents and stakeholders in envisioning the future of downtown. With abundant plans in place, the goal is to prioritize which enhancements to focus on first, garner feedback from residents, and drill down to the implementation phase.
"This initiative recognizes that we've made a lot of investments downtown, but in many ways haven't connected the investments as well as we should," said Marinucci. "We need to make the public realm as attractive as the destinations."
Attendees posed questions about connecting to the waterfront, making downtown accessible to all income levels, and prioritizing educational opportunities for families.
Marinucci cited lakefront development plans, the incorporation of affordable housing into downtown projects and DCA's work with Campus International School and the Cleveland Municipal School District as signs of progress.
Source: Joe Marinucci
By Lee Chilcote
Northeast Ohio's convention and visitors bureau wants to change the conversation about Cleveland. The multifaceted branding enterprise is designed to bridge a communications gap that ideally will be crossed by millions of business and leisure visitors over the next few years.
#thisiscle promo video goes viral in 3- 2- 1...
On Wednesday, Positively Cleveland, the convention and visitors bureau for Cleveland, announced a new destination brand, presented new plans for its destination development initiatives, unveiled a local social media movement and highlighted a series of organizational accomplishments.
But without question, the most buzzed about element of the package was the following video, "A Cleveland Anthem," which promotes the theme: "Cleveland doesn’t follow anyone’s rules – it makes its own."
But without question, the most buzzed about element of the package was the following video, "A Cleveland Anthem," which promotes the theme: "Cleveland doesn’t follow anyone’s rules – it makes its own."
Those among us that emerge to the forefront of their professions and community have been honing their leadership skills for some time. Here are a few young African-Americans making waves around town through advocacy, talent and so much more.
cleveland state university to host popular ted event this fall
Cleveland State University announced that it will host the popular TED series in October. TED, which stands to Technology, Entertainment and Design, shares original ideas through talks and programs held around the world.
Sponsored by CSU’s Monte Ahuja College of Business to highlight the imagination, innovation and entrepreneurship of the Cleveland and CSU communities, TEDxClevelandStateUniversity will be held on October 3.
“We’re really excited we’re able to host a TEDx event,” says Colette Hart, senior director of outreach and engagement centers at the college of business. “The TED community works hard to identify potential TED hosts that are consistent with the goals and objectives to inspire and innovate.”
TEDxClevelandStateUniversity should put Cleveland in the national spotlight, at least among TED followers. “Most people who have heard a TED talk have been moved because it’s very personal,” Hart says. “It has a global following and our job is to make sure Cleveland State and Cleveland are part of that global community.”
Ahuja College dean Joseph Mazzola sees the TEDx conference as a growth opportunity. “For people who watch TEDx presentations, the whole idea is to be around innovative thinkers and innovative ideas,” he says. “They want to connect the dots and see the world in a way that hasn’t been seen before.”
While the speakers have yet to be chosen, interest has been high. “We’ve had people contact us globally who are interested in participating,” says Hart. “It allows us to showcase the talent of our local community on a global basis.”
Hart says they will be sure to include students and the community in the programming. A portion of the event will be dedicated to past TED talks.
Now that CSU has earned a TEDx license, the university plans to host regular events. October’s program will be an annual happening.
Source: Colette Hart, Joseph Mazzola
Writer: Karin Connelly
Sponsored by CSU’s Monte Ahuja College of Business to highlight the imagination, innovation and entrepreneurship of the Cleveland and CSU communities, TEDxClevelandStateUniversity will be held on October 3.
“We’re really excited we’re able to host a TEDx event,” says Colette Hart, senior director of outreach and engagement centers at the college of business. “The TED community works hard to identify potential TED hosts that are consistent with the goals and objectives to inspire and innovate.”
TEDxClevelandStateUniversity should put Cleveland in the national spotlight, at least among TED followers. “Most people who have heard a TED talk have been moved because it’s very personal,” Hart says. “It has a global following and our job is to make sure Cleveland State and Cleveland are part of that global community.”
Ahuja College dean Joseph Mazzola sees the TEDx conference as a growth opportunity. “For people who watch TEDx presentations, the whole idea is to be around innovative thinkers and innovative ideas,” he says. “They want to connect the dots and see the world in a way that hasn’t been seen before.”
While the speakers have yet to be chosen, interest has been high. “We’ve had people contact us globally who are interested in participating,” says Hart. “It allows us to showcase the talent of our local community on a global basis.”
Hart says they will be sure to include students and the community in the programming. A portion of the event will be dedicated to past TED talks.
Now that CSU has earned a TEDx license, the university plans to host regular events. October’s program will be an annual happening.
Source: Colette Hart, Joseph Mazzola
Writer: Karin Connelly
ceo of breakthrough schools testified to u.s. house on education reform
On March 12, the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, chaired by Rep. John Kline (R-MN), held a hearing entitled, “Raising the Bar: The Role of Charter Schools in K-12 Education.” During the hearing, members discussed ways charter schools are empowering parents, pioneering fresh teaching methods, encouraging state and local innovation, and helping students escape underperforming schools.
Alan Rosskamm, CEO of Breakthrough Schools in Cleveland, described Breakthrough’s success in raising the bar on student achievement.
“In 2012-2013, Breakthrough students, on average, outperformed their peers across the city, county, and state in every subject,” Rosskamm said. “Nationally, Breakthrough Schools were recognized as 1st in reading growth and 4th in math growth among urban charter school networks in the United States in a study by the CREDO Institute at Stanford University.”
Mr. Rosskamm’s remarks underscore the unique relationship that Breakthrough Schools has with the Cleveland Metropolitan School District. The district sponsors eight of Breakthrough’s 10 schools, including Lakeshore Intergenerational School, which will open in Collinwood this August. Four of Breakthrough’s schools are housed in former district buildings and a fifth, Near West Intergenerational School, is in space leased from the district for $1 a year.
“Half of Cleveland’s top performing schools are public charter schools,” John Zitzner, President of Friends of Breakthrough School, added in a release. “Replicating high performing charters like Breakthrough Schools is critical to turning Cleveland into a championship city for education.”
Read more about the hearing here.
Alan Rosskamm, CEO of Breakthrough Schools in Cleveland, described Breakthrough’s success in raising the bar on student achievement.
“In 2012-2013, Breakthrough students, on average, outperformed their peers across the city, county, and state in every subject,” Rosskamm said. “Nationally, Breakthrough Schools were recognized as 1st in reading growth and 4th in math growth among urban charter school networks in the United States in a study by the CREDO Institute at Stanford University.”
Mr. Rosskamm’s remarks underscore the unique relationship that Breakthrough Schools has with the Cleveland Metropolitan School District. The district sponsors eight of Breakthrough’s 10 schools, including Lakeshore Intergenerational School, which will open in Collinwood this August. Four of Breakthrough’s schools are housed in former district buildings and a fifth, Near West Intergenerational School, is in space leased from the district for $1 a year.
“Half of Cleveland’s top performing schools are public charter schools,” John Zitzner, President of Friends of Breakthrough School, added in a release. “Replicating high performing charters like Breakthrough Schools is critical to turning Cleveland into a championship city for education.”
Read more about the hearing here.
Tri-C has launched locally the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses, a $500 million initiative to help new business owners create jobs and economic opportunity. The program shepherds small companies through workshops, one-to-one advice, mentoring, capital and networking.
Corporate College, the business and training division of Tri-C, recently tested the notion that even successful businesses must continue to grow and learn with a field trip to the UK, sending a senior training specialist to coach up executives from Smithers Group, a scientific testing and consulting organization based in Akron.
Thanks to Thrive, the Cuyahoga Community College business incubator program, students receive a shared office space outfitted with a phone, computer and printer as well as access to a conference room and reception area. Participants also are assigned a mentor from either Tri-C faculty or the business community.
How hot is the rental market in and around downtown Cleveland? Not only are there wait lists at most downtown apartment buildings, but developers are scrambling to bring more units online. But more than just beds, these new developments are boosting the vitality of urban neighborhoods while bringing with them much-needed retail.
Tomorrow's economy-boosting titans are today's middle and high school students, and there's no good reason to make them wait until college or later to start honing their business acumen. Fortunately, area programs aimed at would-be high school entrepreneurs are providing experience that will serve them well regardless their future paths.
happy dog to open east side location in iconic euclid tavern in university circle
The Happy Dog in the Gordon Square Arts District is famous for tasty hot dogs with crazy toppings, live music and adventurous cultural fare, including members of the Cleveland Orchestra recording an album live in front of the racetrack bar. Now the successful venue is heading east; in the ultimate win-win, the owners are opening their first east side location inside the now-shuttered Euclid Tavern.
"We've been approached many times, and there are a lot of things we could have done," says Sean Watterson, co-owner of the Happy Dog. "To be a part of bringing the Euclid Tavern back to life was the thing that made us go, 'OK, maybe we could do another one of these, and this is the place to do it.'"
The Happy Dog signed a lease on the space this week with University Circle Inc., which bought the building last year from the previous owners. The Euclid Tavern operated continuously as a bar from 1909 until 2001, making it the second longest-running bar site in Cleveland, according to UCI Director Chris Ronayne. New owners re-opened it in 2008 and stuck with it until 2013. UCI began renovating the space and looking for a new operator earlier this year.
"We were searching for the right tenant to live up to the iconic reputation of the Euclid Tavern as a music venue," says Ronayne. "We were in courtship with the guys from the Happy Dog for a while -- they know food, music and programming."
The Euclid Tavern has hosted national acts Chrissie Hynde, Pavement and Green Day, and also served as home base for legendary local acts like Mr. Stress. The tavern was also featured in the 1987 film Light of Day starring Michael J. Fox and Joan Jett.
Although plans are still being shaped, Watterson says the new venue will operate as the Happy Dog at the Euclid Tavern. A similar menu will be available, but some hot dog toppings will only be available at the east side location, and vice versa. The owners also plan more cultural programming through partnerships with area institutions such as the Cleveland Institute of Music and Institute of Art.
The same partnership that owns the west side Happy Dog, including Watterson, Sean Kilbane and chef Eric Williams, will open the Euclid Tavern location.
Source: Sean Watterson, Chris Ronayne
Writer: Lee Chilcote
"We've been approached many times, and there are a lot of things we could have done," says Sean Watterson, co-owner of the Happy Dog. "To be a part of bringing the Euclid Tavern back to life was the thing that made us go, 'OK, maybe we could do another one of these, and this is the place to do it.'"
The Happy Dog signed a lease on the space this week with University Circle Inc., which bought the building last year from the previous owners. The Euclid Tavern operated continuously as a bar from 1909 until 2001, making it the second longest-running bar site in Cleveland, according to UCI Director Chris Ronayne. New owners re-opened it in 2008 and stuck with it until 2013. UCI began renovating the space and looking for a new operator earlier this year.
"We were searching for the right tenant to live up to the iconic reputation of the Euclid Tavern as a music venue," says Ronayne. "We were in courtship with the guys from the Happy Dog for a while -- they know food, music and programming."
The Euclid Tavern has hosted national acts Chrissie Hynde, Pavement and Green Day, and also served as home base for legendary local acts like Mr. Stress. The tavern was also featured in the 1987 film Light of Day starring Michael J. Fox and Joan Jett.
Although plans are still being shaped, Watterson says the new venue will operate as the Happy Dog at the Euclid Tavern. A similar menu will be available, but some hot dog toppings will only be available at the east side location, and vice versa. The owners also plan more cultural programming through partnerships with area institutions such as the Cleveland Institute of Music and Institute of Art.
The same partnership that owns the west side Happy Dog, including Watterson, Sean Kilbane and chef Eric Williams, will open the Euclid Tavern location.
Source: Sean Watterson, Chris Ronayne
Writer: Lee Chilcote
The large number of open jobs in the startup community indicates these companies are doing well and growing. But working for a young startup has unique challenges. Recruiters and employers discuss some of the critical qualities required for those looking for a good fit with a startup.